asked the Minister for Education the total grants-in-aid requested by the voluntary youth organisations for 1974-75 and the total paid in 1973-74.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Voluntary Youth Organisations Grants.
39.
Most youth organisations have not specified a particular sum in making their application for grant-aid but have requested a contribution towards their overall expenditures. The amount paid for 1973-74 was £79,050.
How much does this leave unpaid out of the 1973-74 budget figure?
The £79,050 was paid out of the money which was allocated for the year 1972-73. The position which has obtained is that the money is voted by the Dáil for one year and allocated towards the end of that year for the subsequent year. That is why what I say is the case.
Will there be a shortfall then on the amount that was estimated for this year? In other words, should a figure in excess of £79,000——
I can assure the Deputy that the amount which I will be allocating will be a substantial increase on what was allocated last year.
The Parliamentary Secretary indicated that a total of £79,000 was allocated last year. Could he give us some indication of the way in which that was allocated? Was it allocated to national organisations?
This figure relates solely to the amount allocated to voluntary youth organisations. It does not cover money which was allocated through VECs or subsidiaries of VECs. It does not, for instance, include the £130,000 which was allocated to Comhairle le Leas Óige or other moneys which went to youth services through other vocational education committees. It does not at all comprise the total allocation to youth.
I am concerned with the fact that many of these youth clubs in different parts of the city and country do not seem to be able to get direct aid for their purposes. The Parliamentary Secretary says that £79,000 was allocated. Was this sum allocated to national organisations and not in any case to any one individual club?
Yes.
Could we have a rough indication of the organisations to which it was allocated?
That would take some time.
That is expanding on the subject matter of the question.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary circulate the information?
I will not promise. If the Deputy wishes to put down a further question I will answer it.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary explain to me how, if the allocation for this year has not been made, at least one club that I am aware of was told that it would not qualify even though it did qualify in a previous year?
This is to voluntary youth organisations, not to individual clubs.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary——
Deputy Tunney, please bear with the Chair. I am anxious to make some progress. I have given a lot of latitude on this subject.
Will the Ceann Comhairle bear with me? When will the Parliamentary Secretary announce the grants?
Soon.
I hope there is no special credit here for expedition or speed——
The Deputy should not lecture the Chair in this way.
This is the time of the year when it is customary to make the announcement regarding these grants——
I have given the Deputy a good deal of latitude and the Deputy should not take from that.
An announcement will be made soon.
We will put down another question.